Fortezza Rohan, Military fortress in Susch, Switzerland
Fortezza Rohan is a military fortress sitting atop the Khaschina hilltop above Susch, featuring a star-shaped outer wall with three gates. The walls rise between 2.5 and 5 meters high and form a geometric design typical of 17th-century defensive structures.
Duke Henri II de Rohan commissioned this fortress in 1635 during the Thirty Years' War to protect the region from Spanish and Austrian attacks. The structure was part of a broader military strategy to safeguard borders during this turbulent era.
The site shows how people in the 17th century defended their territory during wartime. The walls and gates tell the story of an era when such fortifications were essential to controlling a region.
The ascent to the fortress follows a marked walking path of about 15 minutes from the village of Susch, which has regular train connections to Chur and Upper Engadine. The site is freely accessible but requires sturdy footwear and involves uphill walking.
The walls feature horizontal support beams and wooden spikes designed to prevent attackers from placing siege ladders against them. These details reveal how defenders specifically tried to counter the assault methods of their era.
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